System and method for a distance-weighted continuous pricing function for transportation requests

Abstract

In one embodiment, there is disclosed a method, including: receiving, at a server comprising at least one processor, a request from a computing device of a passenger for a driver for a specified pickup location; and computing a fare from a distance-weighted continuous pricing function based at least in part on a distance from the specified pickup location to a reference location. There is also disclosed an apparatus for providing the method, and a computer-readable medium having stored thereon executable instructions for providing the method.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving, at a server comprising at least one processor, a request from a computing device of a passenger for a driver for a specified pickup location; and   computing a fare from a distance-weighted continuous pricing function based at least in part on a distance from the specified pickup location to a reference location.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting, from a plurality of drivers, a first driver to pick up the passenger at the specified pickup location. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises adjusting the fare based on a number of the plurality of drivers. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises identifying a first reference location nearest to the specified pickup location (S1) and having associated therewith a first reference location price (P S1 ), identifying a second reference location (S2) next-nearest to the specified pickup location and having associated therewith a second reference location price (P S2 ), identifying a function of the distance from the specified pickup location to S1 (D S1 ), identifying a function of the distance from the specified pickup location to S2 (D S2 ), and computing a price (P) as a function f(P S1 ,D S1 ,P S2 ,D S2 ). 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein the function is of the form P=D S1 *P S1 +D S2 *P S2 . 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function further comprises determining that the specified pickup location is within a fixed-price radius of S1, and setting the fare as a fixed price for the fixed-price radius of S1. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the fixed-price radius is related to a geographic interest point. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function further comprises accounting for a plurality of reference locations. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises identifying a first zone (Z1), identifying a second zone (Z2), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z1 (P Z1 ), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z2 (P Z2 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z1 to the specified pickup location (D CZ1 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z2 to the specified pickup location (D CZ2 ), and computing a price (P) as a function P=f(P Z1 ,D CZ1 ,P Z2 ,D CZ2 ). 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a processor; and   one or more logic elements comprising a pricing engine operable for:
 receiving, at a server comprising at least one processor, a request from a computing device of a passenger for a driver for a specified pickup location; and 
 computing a fare from a distance-weighted continuous pricing function based at least in part on a distance from the specified pickup location to a reference location. 
   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the pricing engine is further operable for selecting, from a plurality of drivers, a first driver to pick up the passenger at the specified pickup location. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises adjusting the fare based on a number of the plurality of drivers. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises identifying a first zone (Z1), identifying a second zone (Z2), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z1 (P Z1 ), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z2 (P Z2 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z1 to the specified pickup location (D CZ1 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z2 to the specified pickup location (D CZ2 ), and computing a price (P) as a function P=f(P Z1 ,D CZ1 ,P Z2 ,D CZ2 ). 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function further comprises determining that the specified pickup location is within a fixed-price radius of S1, and setting the fare as a fixed price for the fixed-price radius of S1. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the fixed-price radius is related to a geographic interest point. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function further comprises accounting for additional reference locations. 
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises identifying a first zone (Z1), identifying a second zone (Z2), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z1 (P Z1 ), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z2 (P Z2 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z1 to the specified pickup location (D CZ1 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z2 to the specified pickup location (D CZ2 ), and computing a price (P) as a function P=f(P Z1 ,D CZ1 ,P Z2 ,D CZ2 ). 
     
     
         18 . One or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums having stored thereon executable instructions for providing a pricing engine operable for:
 receiving, at a server comprising at least one processor, a request from a computing device of a passenger for a driver for a specified pickup location; and   computing a fare from a distance-weighted continuous pricing function based at least in part on a distance from the specified pickup location to a reference location.   
     
     
         19 . The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of  claim 18 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises identifying a first reference location nearest to the specified pickup location (S1) and having associated therewith a first reference location price (P S1 ), identifying a second reference location (S2) next-nearest to the specified pickup location and having associated therewith a second reference location price (P S2 ), identifying a function of the distance from the specified pickup location to S1 (D S1 ), identifying a function of the distance from the specified pickup location to S2 (D S2 ), and computing a price (P) of the form P=D S1 *P S1 +D S2 *P S2 . 
     
     
         20 . The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of  claim 19 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function further comprises determining that the specified pickup location is within a fixed-price radius of S1, and setting the fare as a fixed price for the fixed-price radius of S1. 
     
     
         21 . The one or more tangible, non-transitory computer-readable storage mediums of  claim 18 , wherein computing the fare from the distance-weighted continuous pricing function comprises identifying a first zone (Z1), identifying a second zone (Z2), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z1 (P Z1 ), identifying an instantaneous fixed price for Z2 (P Z2 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z1 to the specified pickup location (D CZ1 ), identifying a function of a distance from a point of Z2 to the specified pickup location (D CZ2 ), and computing a price (P) as a function P=f(P Z1 ,D CZ1 ,P Z2 ,D CZ2 ).